CMC enrollment high

Steamboat Springs  Students still are lining up for the fall semester at the Colorado Mountain College's Alpine Campus. Enrollment is not complete but already has reached 1,179 students, compared with 1,268 by the end of the fall semester in 2007. College officials expect the number to increase as additional classes begin.

Debbie Crawford, spokeswoman for the college system, said classes continue to start until the end of the year.

"Even though many classes started Aug. 25, we have approximately 230 classes that start after that date, all the way through October, November and even into December," she wrote in an e-mail.

Because the college is flexible in enrollment dates, students often wait until the last minute to register officially for the classes.

"Though we encourage students to register early, we always have students who sign up just before, or on, the first day of class. Unlike traditional four-year colleges, where students must pre-register, many of our students don't pre-register," Crawford said.

"It can make scheduling challenging for us, but it means more flexibility for the students. It goes with the territory of being a community college that's responsive to student needs, she said."

Even with more students expected later, Assistant Campus Dean of Student Services Brian Hoza said the campus felt busy and students were busy with activities to start their year.

"The activity seems strong. We have a very committed, upbeat group," he said. "There are a lot of activities and involvement with things that are going on."

The Alpine Campus is one of three residential sites in the CMC system, and residence halls at all three campuses are regularly filled. The dorms at the Alpine Campus have been filled for the past 10 years. This year is no different, Crawford said.

"Alpine Campus reached capacity first, which is usually the case," she said. "We tripled up some students, and the wait list is now around 45."

Hoza said some students probably were deterred from enrolling because there was no residential space, but he hopes more students will be able to enroll mid-year.